THE UNKNOWN PAINTER. 157 5. He went to work. A little coloring here, a touch there, a soft shade here; and thus three hours rolled unheeded by. A slight noise caused him to look up. Murillo with his pupils stood around; the sunshine was peering brightly through the casement, while yet the unextinguished taper burned. 6. Again he was a slave. His eyes fell beneath their eager gaze. Who is your master, Sebastian?" "You, senior." "Your drawing-master, I mean?" "You, senior." "I have never given you lessons." "No, but you gave them to these young gentlemen, and I heard them." "Yes, you have done better; you have profited by them. Does this boy deserve punishment or reward, my dear pupils ?" "Reward, senior," was the quick response. What shall it be?" 66 7. One suggested a suit of clothes; another, a sum of but no chord was touched in the captive's bosom. Another said, "The master feels kindly to-day; ask your freedom, Sebastian!" He sank on his knees, and lifted his burning eyes to his master's face: "The freedom of my father!" 8. Murillo folded him to his bosom: "Your pencil shows that you have talent; your request, that you have a heart; you are no longer my slave, but my son. Happy Murillo ! I have not only painted, but made a painter." 9. There are still to be seen in classic Italy many beautiful specimens from the pencils of Murillo and Sebastian. EXERCISE. 1. Murillo found unfinished sketches upon the canvas. 2. He was utterly unable to conjecture the author. 3. The pupils had arrived at the studio before him. 4. They were grouped before an easel. [Frame used by painters.] 5. They found a picture of exquisite outline and surpassing beauty. 6. You must inform me of the mysterious visitant to this room. 7. He took his seat at the frame to erase his work. 8. The sunshine was peering brightly through the casement. LXIII. AN APRIL DAY. A I. LL day the low-hung clouds have dropped All day that soft gray mist hath wrapped Hill, valley, grove, and town. II. There has not been a sound to-day III. Of waving bough, or warbling bird, I could have half believed I heard IV. I stood to hear I love it well, The rain's continuous sound: V. For leafy thickness is not yet Earth's naked breast to screen, Though every dripping branch is set VI. Sure, since I looked at early morn, Those honeysuckle buds Have swelled to double growth; that thorn 1. The clouds have dropped their garnered fulness down. [Gathered.] 2. I stood to hear the rain's continuous sound. 3. There is no leafy thickness to screen earth's breast. 4. Every branch is set with shoots of tender green. 5. The steamy air is all with fragrance rife. 6. That lilac's cleaving cones have burst. 7. A momentary deluge pours, then thins, decreases, stops. 8. A gleam of amber light breaks forth from the west, ere the dimples on the stream have circled out of sight. LXIV. - BOYS' COUNTRY AMUSEMENTS. A S boys must be amused, it is a benevolent provision which has decreed that it shall take so little to amuse them. All that a boy needs is room to play in and companions to play with, and he is happy as a king. I always pity a boy without a companion, or a boy in London, where there is so little room for playing; and yet I have no doubt that even under these circumstances boys manage to enjoy themselves. 2. But doubtless boyhood is in its glory in the country. The rural juvenile has an ever-changing round of congenial pleasures, which leave naught to be desired in his lot. First, in winter there is the ice, the broad rivers, the muddy ponds, the wide fens, converted by the magic of King Frost into a play-ground, over which we go skimming for miles as if on fairies' wings, spurning the base realities of solid earth, forgetful of all things but the keen air, and the sparkling frost, and the exhilarating motion. What in life could seem more Elysian to a boy? 3. But the clouds gather, the snow falls thickly on the ground; old ladies lament, but the boy rejoices. Lavish Nature has sent him a new pleasure, to dabble in the snow till he glows with heat, to build the snow-man higher, higher, and dance around him, oblivious of wet feet, scornful of overshoes. A snowball fight, mad charge, swift retreat,what sport so full of mingled excitement and good-humor! 4. Perhaps we have talent enough to construct a sledge, and go spinning down the hillside at breathless speed, generally overturning at the end of our journey, which is half the fun. Perhaps we have hare-and-hounds over the snow, tracing the hare by his footsteps, and making the white woods ring with our shouts. At all events, we don't stay by the fire in this glorious weather, I promise you. 5. By and by come spring and summer, and the boy tribe still is cared for by Nature. We are off to the woods; we are the first to hail the primrose and the gentle violet; BOYS' COUNTRY AMUSEMENTS. 161 we climb the trees, bursting forth into bloom, in search of birds'-nests. The year grows hot; and in cool rivers, under shady willows, or in deep, black pools, or perhaps on farstretching yellow sands, we lave our limbs, splashing, shouting, and singing as joyfully and fearlessly as if Adam were still in his garden, sinless and sorrowless. 6. Then we mount the pony, and scamper through the leafy lanes, or we roll in the pleasant hay, or we gather daisy-chains, and pelt each other with buttercups. By and by, when autumn has begun with a fair show of kindness to do its ruthless work, we are off, basket in hand, to gather nuts and blackberries. 7. And we dance among the fallen leaves, merrily thoughtless of the sober lesson they would teach us; and we pile them and the fir-cones into bonfires, and rejoice in the blaze and the cloud of smoke, and glory in having burned our fingers and made light of the pain; and may |